Draft-rigging for cars.



PATENTED MAY 5,1903. H. T. KRAKAU. DRAFT RIGGINGFOR CARS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 7, 1903.

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INVENTOR WITNESSES ms uonms wzrzns c0. Puurou'mu, WASHINGTON, n. c.

PATENTED MAY 5, 1903.

H. T. KRAKAU. DRAFT RIGGING FOR CARS.

APPLICATION IfLED JAN. 7. 1903.

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H. T. KRAKAU. DRAFT RIGGING FOR CARS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 7, 1903.

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Martino STATES HARRY KRAKAU, OF CLEVELAND,

MALLEABLE CASTINGS COMPANY,

TION OF OHIO.

Patented May 5, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

DRAFT-RIGGING FOR CARS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 727,386, dated May 5, 1903.

Application filed January '7, 1903.

To all whom it warty concern: I

Be it known that I, HARRY T. KRAKAU, of Cleveland, Cuyahoga county, Ohio, have inented a new and useful Draft-Rigging for Cars, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which-- Figure 1 is a top plan view of my improved to draft-rigging. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, showing the end sill of the car in vertical section. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sec tion on the line III III of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a cross-section on the line IV IV of Fig. 1. [5 Fig. 5 is a similar view on the line V V of Fig. l, and Figs. 6 and 7 show a modified form of centering device.

The purpose of my invention is to provide a radially-movable draft-rigging in which the parts are of very simple construction and are adapted to resist the heavy strains to which draft-riggings are subjected when in use.

I have shown in my drawings what I consider to be the preferred embodiment of my invention and will now describe it, promising that those skilled in the art will be able to modify the form and arrangement in various ways.

The draft-rigging comprises a frame adapted to carry the draw-bar or coupler and the resistance devices-that is, the springs or fric tion attachments-this frame being mounted at its rear end on a pin on which it swings pivotally and being set in asocket consti- 5 tuted by an open frame or casting which is fixed to the car-frame, preferably to the center sills at the position of the car-bolster. This pin is preferably in line with the kingpin of the car-truck, but is a separate pin independent of the king-pin. The draft-rigging frame is provided with a spring-actuated centering device by which the draft-rigging is restored to the central line of the car when free, so that it may be adapted to couple 5 readily with ears not provided with radial draft-riggings.

Referring now to the drawings, 2 2 are the center sills of the car, 3 is the bolster, and 4 is the end sill, the sills 2 being preferably ar- Serial No. 138,163. (No model.)

ranged to diverge somewhat to the end sill and being riveted to the latter.

5 5 are the cross-bars extending between the sills 2, back of the carry-iron, and adapted to carry between them the draft-rigging frame, as shown in Fig. 5, the lower cross-bar 5 being of U shape, so as to extend downward below the draft-rigging frame and having inturned margins 6, riveted to the bottom of the center sills.

'7 is the socket open at the front, in which an extension 8 at the rear of the draft-rigging frame has a bearing. This socket is preferably a casting having rearward extensions 7. It is set in and may form part of the bolster and is riveted at said extensions to the center sills.

9 is the vertical pin, which extends through the top and bottom walls of the socket and through the extension 8 and constitutes the center of radial motion of the draft-rigging frame.

The draft-rigging frame comprises the rear extension 8 with its head 8 (shown in Fig. 3) and lateral side plates or draft-irons 10 and top and bottom plates 11 11, the side plates 10 and the top and bottom plates 11 being bolted or riveted to the head 8' at their rear ends and at the front ends being riveted to stop-plates 12. The top plates 11 terminate at the stop-plates, and the side plates 10 or extensions thereof extend forward between the carry-iron 13 and the end sill 4, being contracted for that purpose. Plates 15 and 16 connect the side plates 10 forward of the stop-plates 12.

17 is the shank of the draw-bar, which extends between the stop-plates.

18 is the yoke, which extends between the plates 11 11 and engages the end of the drawbar.

19 is the rear follower, which bears against the rear end of the yoke, and 20 is the front follower, which has a bearing against the stop-plates. The head 8 has forward extensions 8, which constitute stops for the rear follower 19. Draft and buffing springs and,

if desired, frictional devices of any suitable construction are interposed between the followers 19 and 20 when devices requiring them are used. When thus constructed, the forces of buffing and draft are transmitted, respectively, by the draw-bar and the front follower 20 and by the yoke and rear follower 19 to the spring mechanism, and the entire frame of the draft-rigging is adapted to swing radially on the central pin 9 in order that when passing around a curve the draft-riggings of two adjacent cars will always be in line with each other Without undue lateral strain on the couplers, the draft-rigging, the car-frame, or the wheels. The stress of buff ing is received by the open socket 7 and transmitted thereby to the car-sills, and the stress of draft is received by the pivot-pin 9.

The centering device above referred to in its preferable form is shown in Figs. 1 to 5 and comprises links 21 21, pivoted at the rear end to the cross-bars 5 5 or some other part ofthe car-frame above and below the draftrigging frame and having slots 22, which fit around trunnions 23 23, fixed to the front follower 20, preferably by a cap 24, which carries the trunnion and is secured to vertical extensions 20 from the follower 20. If the draft-rigging frame be deflected from the central line of the car, turning on the center 9, the distance between a point on the draftrigging frame opposite the trunnions 22 and the center of the rear pivots of the links 21 Will lengthen, so that these links acting on the ends of the slots upon the trunnions 22 will draw the follower 2O inwardly and will put'the spring mechanism of the draft-rigging under compression. When the force which deflected the draft-rigging is removed for example, if the draft-rigging is uncoupled from another car-the spring mechanism will react and forcing the follower 20 forwardly will operate, through the links 21.,-to restore the draft-rigging into line with the center of the car. During buffing the slots 22 will move idly over the trunnions 23 without interfering with the operation of the draft-rigglng.

In Figs. 6 and 7 I show a modified center ing device in which the links 21 are not used, but spring-buffers 25, backed by springs 26, are secured to the carry-iron in sockets 27, facing the sides of the draft-rigging frame.

Other forms of centering device may be employed, and within the scope of my claims, relating to the construction of the draft-rigging and the centering device, the pivot-pin 9 may be omitted and substituted by other mechanism forgiving the draft-rigging a pivotal motion.

I claim l. A draft-rigging having a radially-movable frame bearing at its rear end in an open socket secured to the frame of the car, a draw-bar and resistance device carried by the frame, and a pivot-pin extending through said socket; substantially as described.

2. A draft-rigglng comprising a radiallymovable frame having at its rear end a head constituting a pivotal bearing, forwardly-extending side plates fixed to said head, and a draw-bar and resistance device carried by the frame; substantially as described. 3. Aradially-movable draft-rigginghaving at its rear end a head constituting a pivotal bearing, and forwardly-extending side plates and top and bottom plates fixed to said head; substantially as described.

4:. A radially-movabledraft-rigging having at its rear end a head constituting a pivotal bearing and forwardly-extending side plates and top and bottom plates fixed to said head, said plates having at the forward end stops for a follower; substantially as described.

5. A draft-rigging comprising a radiallyswinging frame, in combination with a centering device adapted when free to center the draft-rigging in the middle of the car, and a draw-bar and resistance device carried by the frame; substantially as described.

6. A draft-rigging having a centering device comprising a link connected to the carframe, and having a yielding bearing on the draft-rigging; substantially as described.

7. A draft-rigging having a centering device comprising a linkconnected to the carframe and having a yielding bearing on the draft-rigging through the spring mechanism of the draft-rigging; substantially as described. I

8. In combination with a radially-movable draft-rigging and its spring-follower, a link pivotally connected to the car-frame,and having slotted connection with the spring mechanism of the draft-rigging; substantially as described.

9. In combination with a radially-movable draft-rigging, a carry-iron, center sills between which the draft-rigging is set, and a U-shaped cross-bar back of the carry-iron, extending between the center sills under the draft-rigging; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

HARRY T. KRAKAU. Witnesses:

D. W. CALL, R. E. MILLER.

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